Ten Reasons Why You Should Drop What You’re Doing and Watch The X Files; 08. The Consistency

I will be straight forward here (and may lose some followers in the process) and say that of all the shows I have watched, I don’t think I have seen a show that has managed to be so damn consistent in quality and in tension than The X Files. While all other shows may be equally gripping in terms of character dynamics and plot buildup, The X Files is on an entire different plane because it manages to keep that freshness for (what’s arguable between individuals and the fandom, but personally to me) seven and a half seasons. I’m not saying The X Files doesn’t have flaws- but those flaws are incredibly minor and small and in a way just more of…extraneous anomalies rather than flaws themselves when you look at the show as a whole. It is ridiculously hard to keep a show’s pull on the audience for seven years straight. I have watched enough shows to realize that at the most, things start to weaken a bit after the fourth season or so for any show, or at least turn in a slightly less wonderful way, but for The X Files, it has no such rule. On the contrary, it gets better with each season, reaching its peak (once again, arguable depending on the individual’s taste but generally so) in the fifth/sixth season. But even then, it doesn’t fall. Rather, it gradually comes down, so gradual that at that point you either don’t really care because you’ve witnessed a stability that very, very few shows can hope to compete with, or because The X Files excels in hooking the audience with everything it has. To say something is ‘consistent’ is a vague term, but when it comes to this show, everything ranging from the character development to the unravelling of the plot layer-by-layer is so well built. I cannot stress how strong this show is in terms of keeping up the expectations it has laid out for itself, and then to surpass those expectations in every season; this is exactly why The X Files is so loved, so critically acclaimed, so wonderful and large; because it has such a strong stability that not just lasted during the show’s run, but lasts even after, to this day.

Ten Reasons Why You Should Drop What You’re Doing and Watch The X Files; 07. Dana Scully/her Hair

Okay I know I’m cheating a bit because I wrote Characters as one reason already but Dana Scully alone is actually enough of a motivation (if not more- to obsess and love this show) to watch this show. There are plenty of reasons why everyone should pretty much just already without question bow down and worship everything from Scully’s lips to her food habits, but really, she’s a wonderful, wonderful character. There was an article I was reading the other day that I think pretty much gets Scully down as to why she’s such a memorable character in TV history.

But the one I would have gone to the ends of the earth for was Scully. Patient, long-suffering, geeky forensic pathologist Scully, so short and tucked and tailored. (…) But as the show matured, it was Scully — the cerebral head of the X-Files, torn between her Catholic faith, her scientific impulse to explain away the inexplicable and her affection for her partner — who was destined to become the (still cerebral) heart of the show.

The very fact that her character was such a hard sell made her repeated brushes with the supernatural all the more powerful. Mulder’s desire to believe was so expansive, his credulity so flexible, that it’s not as though he was ever going to have either shaken from him. But Scully’s surety was solid, stable, rigid; every time she saw something she thought she’d never see, we saw it crack, sparks fly from it. She was forced to question herself, grow, change. In short, she got the better arc, and her journeys were always, by dint of the setup, more intricate and moving.

The show is shown through Scully’s eyes, which is even more beautiful to use viewers because as she changes and forces to question herself, we’re actually the first to know, the first to witness those subtleties, one ones who look into her heart like Mulder sometimes gets to do, and the ones who cry with her. In short, whether you’re a fan of this woman or not, you travel The X Files with her- and it changes you as it much as it changes her. I cannot stress how much I adore Dana Scully, how her inner strength, her compassion, her stability and her heart have inspired me and have stunned me. She is so real. She is flawed, but she is beautifully so; and as much as The X Files is about Mulder, and about Mulder and Scully- it’s a definite that this show is really nothing without this character, because without her, our perception, and what is shown of The X Files through her eyes would cease to exist.

That said, if you don’t watch The X Files for characters or this stunning woman, you should at least bear witness to the second most beautiful thing on the show which is actually three things: Scully’s hair, her wardrobe, and her terrible taste in temporary boyfriends. I’ll let those speak for themselves as eyecandy (take it as you will) if you get onto watching this show. 

Ten Reasons You Should Drop What You’re Doing and Watch The X Files: 06. The Music/Cinematography 

I rarely recommend movies and/or shows based purely on their external effects- that is, lighting, cinematography and sound editing, but as a person who is familiar with how tough it is to get these things- and to get them perfectly right, I can tell you that The X Files is exemplary on these aspects. We have the era of the 90’s, where technology is reaching a new level, and The X Files doesn’t shy away from taking those risks and seeing where it can go with special effects, sound editing, and synchronization. And surprisingly, it is stunning. We have episodes like Demons, a personal favorite of mine, where hue, saturation of color and gritty cam shots are used, and then Triangle, which uses a 10 minute continuous shot following one single’s perspective from the back.  In terms of special effects, The X Files uses them sparingly; something you don’t notice until later but begin to appreciate because when they are done, they are done out of necessity, because this show bases its fear and ‘thrills’ on acting and the environment and the ideas alone; it does not heavily rely on what can be seen but what isn’t, and the lack of special effects cleverly plays into that central theme.

I think we can also establish that Mark Snow has been the savior of this show even at its lowest points; his music is not only a delight to listen to but fits the mood of the show perfectly, ranging from dark, choppy tones to slow, piano-based romantic ones. And once again, this is a soundtrack that develops with the advancement of technology- towards the later seasons, he starts using more electronic based instruments but still manages to stay home with his style. If anything, the music fills in the gaps of what would be most likely useless scenes of running (which this show has a lot of), chasing, attacking, etc. His music adds to the thrill that is this show, and there are many moments where your heart twists based on the music choice alone. The X Files makes sure to use up every resource it has, both in its actors and its surroundings, which can be clearly seen again and again through the beautiful shots of the woods or the lighting of certain rooms along with other effects.

Ten Reasons Why You Should Drop What You’re Doing and Watch The X Files; 05. The MS Relationship/Romance

If anything, The X Files is most known for the pairing that’s probably considered as one of the most notable and strongest in TV history. While I would love nothing more than to explain to you all why Mulder and Scully are the best OTP to rule the seas, that’s not what this post is for (alas! maybe another day.) But I will tell you that there’s probably no relationship that can match the relationship shared between these two; a relationship that has developed through nine years and two movies and that has never failed to surprise me or move my heart.

We started off with two individuals, who were almost nothing alike in their beliefs- one who was a scientist, who stuck to the facts and the hard evidence, and the other, who wanted nothing more desperately to believe in the things that could not be seen or were not put to light. And yet, they shared common ground in their faith. Scully stuck with hers for the longest time, and Mulder stuck with his (with hiccups in the middle of course). But that’s not what makes their relationship so thrilling, so dynamic and such a pleasure to watch. The interaction between these two, and the times their trust in themselves and in each other have been put to the test have shown the boundaries of a relationship. Mulder and Scully have pushed those boundaries with their absolute trust in each other- in some aspects, they trust each other more than they trust themselves. And that trust is broken, reformed, and twisted through many experiences- some good, most bad- but at the end of the day, they still come to reconcile with what they’ve seen and recognizing each other and respecting each other. What starts off as a platonic, deep friendship turns into something more, and there’s nothing more beautiful in seeing how a relationship grows on a show.

I think what makes Mulder and Scully’s relationship define much of the show is also the consideration of believing. They influence each other, pull and push on each other’s faith. Many times Scully sets aside her rigid beliefs of science to help Mulder, and vice versa. At the same time though, they’re willing to question each other and themselves by what they’ve seen. They constantly twist and change and evolve in their bonds and identities, and know each other like the back of their hands, but at the same time they know when to stop at a certain point where they still remain themselves, where they don’t question each other’s beliefs and respect that. All in all, it comes down to their undying respect and trust in each other. As Scully very accurately says in an episode, “the best relationships - the ones that last - are frequently the ones that are rooted in friendship. You know, one day you look at the person and you see something more than you did the night before. Like a switch has been flicked somewhere. And the person who was just a friend is… suddenly the only person you can ever imagine yourself with.”

Lastly, what makes the dynamic between Mulder and Scully worth watching is the consistency (which in itself is another reason for watching this show, but more of that later). They never really act out of character in any episodes, and their relationship remains firm and doesn’t manage to cross the point where you start questioning if it’s real or not. It is certainly not rushed, but almost so gradual to the point that when they do ‘get together’ you’re not sure whether it’s the first confession or not; you can’t actually put your finger on the timeline and say that this is when it happened, or this is the change in their development. I think that slow progress is equally beautiful as it is realistic and special, what makes them special, and really, what makes this show special.

Ten Reasons Why You Should Drop What You’re Doing and Watch The X Files; 04. The Comedy

The X Files, for the most part, is an extremely intense and heavy show full of themes and dark crimes and just very, very mindwracking stuff. In order to make sure that the viewers weren’t completely depressed, angsty or confused as hell the whole time, the creators decided to be brilliant (again) and introduce what’s probably one of the finest but under-the-radar aspects of the show: comedy.

To put it bluntly, when The X Files gets serious, it’s fantastic. And yet on the other end of the spectrum, when it is funny, it is hilarious. It’s not the dumbed down, stupid comedy you’d find in skits, but is rather light hearted, intelligent and just downright witty. There is at least one comedic episode in almost every season of the X Files, and while it has really nothing to do with the mythology, they are an absolute must-watch, because there is nothing more delightful than seeing your favorite characters, who have gone through so much trauma, make goofy faces, eat plenty of pie while asking questions, skew perspectives of their partners, or make more than 10 Bitchfaces in a matter of minutes. As someone who just isn’t suited toward comedy, I can say that the humor episodes of The X Files are some of the funniest I have ever seen, and it really comes down to the fine acting and the script. They are fan-favorites, and each one of them is spectacular and will leave you out of breath and with your chest hurting.

Ten Reasons Why You Should Drop What You’re Doing and Watch The X Files; 03. The ‘Fillers’

So I said in my previous post that the mythology makes up roughly 1/3 of the show, and thus, the other 2/3 are for the ‘fillers’. I wouldn’t really call them fillers though; while they don’t actually contribute anything solid to the mythology of the show, they are still equally important and highly addictive. While most shows put their fillers to flesh out their characters, or introduce another arc, The X Files is perhaps the only show I’ve seen as of yet that puts careful, careful thought into each episode. It’s almost like an art. Most- and I speak for about 90% percent of this show- of the episodes in The X Files deals with at least one theme. Think of it like Mythbusters, where a question is asked and the episode is spent dealing with that question. It necessarily may not be answered, but brought to light or put out in a different perspective that makes you think about things differently. I can’t stress how intense that would be when you have more than 200 episodes in a show, and yet most of them follow this format. We have episodes like “Irresistible” that ask what actually makes a man ‘evil’ and how it really can be anywhere- even next door, and then episodes like “Demons” in which we’re forced to ask ourselves, how far would we go to get the answers we want? And what constitutes the limits of desperation? It’s pretty heavy stuff (which will fortunately be balanced, as I’ll explain in the next reason).

The fillers also make up central character-related episodes, some Scully-centered, some Mulder-centered, and some even Skinner-centered. They all go back to fleshing out the characters and making them evolve, even if it’s not myth-based. We get to look into our characters’ minds and see how they perceive the world and what they make of it. This also comes back to various secondary characters, one most memorable would be Musings of a Cigarette Man, in which we’re not only given a different outlook on the Cold War, but an insight into an enigma of a character. 

Setting almost painstakingly construction aside, the fillers are just simply spooky and fun to watch. We get all sorts of different paranormal investigations, and it’s fun to see how the relationships between the characters grow and develop. There is so much variety in the filler episodes, and yet there are parallels, which, once again, if you’re able to catch, will make the whole ride even more enjoyable. There are some weak episodes, but barely any, to be honest, and you still manage to get through them without much difficulty, so all in all, it’s worth watching. While some people might find this a huge task to swallow, watching all 200 episodes, as someone who’s watched most of it, I can tell you that while it is heavy in some aspects, it’s equally solid and easy to get through. The X Files masters the mix of those two opposite qualities and handles them extremely well to the point where despite an episode feeling intense, you’re enjoying it and thinking about it at the same time.

Ten Reasons Why You Should Drop What You’re Doing and Watch The X Files: 02. The Mythology

Ah, we’ve come to what truly makes The X Files what it is: the mythology. I’ll be brunt; the mythology is as complicated and confusing as it is intelligent and enthralling. You will be hooked since the first episode. While roughly 1/3 of the show is myth-based, each one of those episodes are packed with questions and answers, leaving you reeling and shocked and most likely a little heart broken at the end of them. Yes, we have it all; government conspiracies, family trauma, aliens, colonization, abductions, secret soldiers, and it’s not all without a well built-up plot. You will be confused, you will be in shock, but that’s why the mythology is so wonderful; it manages to answer questions as it raises them at same time. You are given the pieces of the puzzle, and it’s only in due time when they start to piece together, slowly, but intricately, and that is what makes the X Files such a solid, well developed show.

The highlight of the mythology of this show however is not just on how it impacts the audience, but also how it evolves. There are twist and turns that not only lengthen the mythology but also still add depth to it. It never feels constrained or over-the-top, and isn’t dumbed down but requires the utmost attention- even the subtlest hints are important, and The X Files asks-but not exactly demands- that you look into them. Which is why, if you don’t get it the first time, there is always a second or a third when you will get it- and you will be rewarded greatly if you do. 

Lastly, the mythology doesn’t get out of reach but entangles everything and everyone into the show. It remains grounded humanistically, in that it deals with mortality, ethical and moral values, etc. What is justice? How tangible is it and through what means can it be achieved, and is there an actual line for it? What is the difference between enacting one’s justice and vengeance? These are some of the questions asked in the mythology; questions that relate to the entire show as a core and individually to the characters, which is why the mythology is not only important, but essential; it ties everything together. It is personal, as well as it is external in its approach. It manages to bring in all the characters at one point in one way or another and does it brilliantly without seeming too clustered with thoughts. There are holes, of course- what plot doesn’t have them? But The X Files makes up with those tiny ones with a massive and extremely layered mythology that winds through the seasons and will leave you breathless. Literally.

Ten Reasons Why You Should Drop What You’re Doing and Watch The X Files: 01. The Characters

I thought it would be most appropriate to start off my reasons with this one, because let’s face it, why do we even bother watching TV in the first place? Sure, we can all start off with the plot, but the thing that draws us to television are the characters- their personalities, what makes them tick, how attractive they are, etc etc. As a newcomer to the fandom, I can’t really say how the characters of the X Files impacted me or if I was one of those kids on the block who was seriously influenced by this show and aspired to be some kind of government conspiracist or FBI agent. I can say, however, that there will probably be no other duo that can match up the the exquisite dynamic Dana Scully and Fox Mulder share on the show. Historically speaking, we can say that The X Files was one of the first- if not the one of the few- shows to switch traditional gender roles and introduce two characters who were not only foils of each other, but were still grounded realistically so that the audience could reach out to them. We had the ‘skeptic’ Dana Scully, a scientist who was thorough and firm in her approach, and a leader for today’s many female characters, as well as the ‘believer’ Fox Mulder; a man shrouded in enigma and a desperate crusade to find the truth, both out there, and close to home. It’s the first step in introducing realistic characters, and then it’s the bigger step in fleshing them out and developing them- and the X Files has, if anything, completely succeeded in those tasks. We see these two characters grow wonderfully, in reaction to what they have seen and what they have experienced, whether it’s been for the good or the bad. And yet, they still remain themselves at the core- something you just don’t see that often in shows, and that is exactly why Mulder and Scully are such solid characters, because they are human, and they have faults, and are given room to grow, but also because at the end of the day, they are still the familiar faces you come to know and love since the first episode.

That said, we can also move on to talking about how the secondary characters of this show are also equally gripping. The X Files does a fantastic job in fleshing out all of the characters, which is difficult since it has so many of them. Not only that, but it offers different perspectives which leads you to questioning whether the ‘bad guys’ are really ‘bad’ or if their justice is just different than ours. I don’t think there’s a single character on this show- except for one, perhaps- that I haven’t come to love or appreciate, despite their intents and actions. And you can fully blame The X Files’ narrative and careful construction of these characters for that. Truly, this show is extremely adept in characterization.